SPOILERS: This post contains details about Captain America: Brave New World
Although Captain America: Brave New World has hit theaters during a particularly divisive time for the United States, those behind the MCU sequel would ask fans not to read too much into it.
During Tuesday’s world premiere in Hollywood, star Anthony Mackie and director Julius Onah spoke to Deadline about offering audiences an “escape” with the fourth Captain America film, which sees Mackie’s Sam Wilson achieve the “American Dream” in taking over the shield from Steve Rogers (Chris Evans).
“I think the great thing about this movie is, Marvel gave us the best script with the best cast, with the best team, to make the best movie we could. And I’m proud of it,” said Mackie. “I’m proud of who Sam Wilson has become in this universe, and watching him grow from a guy who just went to take a jog to Captain America is honestly the American Dream.”
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Onah added, “This is the first big fat movie of 2025. Telling the story was about creating something that the audience can have a blast with across the world. We’ve got a guy flying around with Vibranium wings against a guy who’s the Red Hulk. This is meant to be two hours where you get to escape from everything else. So, I really wanted to have fun telling this story. I really wanted this story to have heart, and that’s really what I leaned into with this cast and crew.”
It’s hard not to find some cinematic parallels to the current state of politics in our country. After his past crimes are exposed, the president turns into a big red monster who ultimately destroys the White House before gracefully accepting his fate behind bars.
Anthony Mackie on the pride he has for his role as Sam Wilson and working potentially again with Chris Evans in the MCU | #CaptainAmericaBraveNewWorld pic.twitter.com/CDZLniKPDV
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) February 12, 2025
Despite the unfortunate imagery, the movie was filmed in 2023, more than a year before President Donald Trump was elected for a second term.
Taking over the role of President Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross (aka Red Hulk) from the late William Hurt, Harrison Ford refused to politicize the character after announcing his endorsement for Kamala Harris in November.
“The other guy, he spent four years turning us against each other while embracing dictators and tyrants around the world,” said Ford at the time. “That’s not who we are. We don’t need to ‘make America great again.’ Come on, we are great. What we need is to work together again. What we need is a president who works for all of us again.”
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